Combination dumb-bell and adjustable spring grip



Feb, 13, 1923. v

W. WHITTAKER 'L AND ADJUSTABLE SPRING GRIP COMBINATION DUMB BET Filed 001;. 22

Patented Feb 13, 1923.

ENETEE STATES WILLIAM WHIT'IAKER, OF BRANDON, MANITOBA, CANADA.

COMBINATION DUMB-BELL AND ADJUSTABLE SPRING GRIP.

Applicationlfiled October 22, 1921. Serial No. 509,591.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM VVHrr'rAnER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, of the city of Brandon, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Dumb-Bell and Adjustable Spring Grips, of which the following is the specification.

The invention relates to improvements in combination dumb-bell and adjustable spring grips and an object of the invention is to provide a light dumb-bell and grip which can be quickly and accurately adjusted to maintain the muscles in constant tension during the various physical exercises performed and which is arranged so that the i'nusc-ular tension can be increased or diminished to suit the condition of the student as he advances and develops.

A further object is to construct the device so that the adjustment can be made without having to remove any part and by the simple turning of adjusting nuts and to arrange the parts so that there is nothing in the way of the student whilst performing the various exercises.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination dumb-bell and adjustable spring grip which is particularly light in weight and which has a large scope of spring resistance.

With the above more important objects in view the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is aside view of the combined dumb-bell and spring grip.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view centrally through the same.

Fig. -1- is a sectional view longitudinally through the adjusting nut.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the-several figures.

The body of the appliance comprises a pair of similar upper and lower hand grips 1 and 2 having the central. portions thereof suitably shaped to conform to the hand and the ends thereof terminating in semi-circular heads 3 and 4c. The heads of the grip 2 are provided with centrally positioned cross openings 5 and 6 which receive rotatably similar adjusting nuts 7 and 8. Here itwill be noticed that the adjusting nuts are provided with bearing faces 9 engaging shoul ders 10 provided in the grips and that they are provided with central longitudinally extending circular openings 11 and are fitted with internalthreads 12, the threads being comparatively short in respect to the length of the openings. 7

The upper ends of the nuts are externally screw threaded and are provided with collars 13 which hold the nuts in place within the openings 6. The heads of the grip '1 are both provided with end openings 14 which receive thimbles 15, the thimbles being provided with enlarged heads which seat against shoulders 16 provided in the grip ends. A substantially U-shaped rod 17 hav-' ing parallel ends is passed slidably through the thimbles and heads and has the ends thereof screw threaded as indicated at 18 and entering the nuts 7 and 8. A coiled tension spring 19 is mounted on the curved part of the rod and has the ends thereof screw threading into the interior of the thimbles. i

From the above construction it will be apparent that one can adjust the position of the grip 2 in respect to that 1 by turning the nuts 7 and 8 a greater or less amount to close the said grip 2 towards that 1 or spread it away from the same. Once the grip 2 is adjusted and the two grips are caught in the hand between the fingers and thumb it will be seen that the grip 1 will resist the closing of the fingers by virtue of the spring action, which has to be extended to allow the grip 1 to pass towards that 2.

Obviously the greater distance the grips are apart the more muscular strength has to be exerted to close them together as the strength of the spring increases the more the ends thereof are extended.

For a beginner where only a light grip is required the grip 2 will be brought close up to that 1. As the student advances in. his exercises and becomes more proficient the distance between the grips can be increased.

I might here explain that in performing the various exercises one holds the grips closed so that the muscles are in tension. Obviously itis a very easy matter to adjust this appliance and any required adjustment can be had and without having to dismount any parts.

When the device is in use the spring is located at the back of the hand. In this position it does not interfere in any way with the performing of any of the exercises.

What I claim as my invention is 2- 1. A combination dumb-bell and spring grip comprising a pair of hand grips, a guide rod having parallel ends passing through the ends of the grips, adjusting nuts rotatab'ly carried by the ends of one of the grips and screw threaded on the ends of the rod and a coiled tension spring mounted on the body of the rod and having the ends anchored to the ends of the other of the grips.

2. A combination dumb-bell and spring grip comprising a pair of hand grips, a substantially U-shaped rod having parallel ends passing through the ends of the grips and with the extremities of the rod screw threaded, adjusting nuts rotatably carried by the ends of one of the grips and screw threaded on the ends of the rod and a coiled tension spring mounted on the rod and having the ends thereof anchored to the ends of the other of the grips.

3. A combination dumb-bell and spring grip comprising a pair of hand grips, a substantially U-shaped rod having parallel ends passing through the ends of the grips and with the extremities of the rod screw threaded, adjusting nuts rotatably' carried by the ends of one of the grips and screw threaded on the ends of the rod, thimbles carried by the ends of the other of the grips and slid ably mounted on the rod and a coiled tension spring mounted on the rod and having the ends thereof anchored in the thimbles.

Signed at WVinnipeg this 22nd day of July, 1921.

WILLIAM WHITTAKER. In the presence of GERALD S. RoXBURGI-I,

M, B. Knminrmn. 

